Automobile signal



111119, 1929. BAKER 1.719.828:

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed Dec. 29, 1925 EankLBaker Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRANK L; BAKER, 0F TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

Application filed December 29, 1925. Serial No. 78,200.

My said invention relates to an automobile signal and it is an object of the same to provide a device of this character which can be used to make various I signals and also for a parking light, as well as to illuminate the running board of the automobile.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, I

Figure 1 is an elevation of my device in position on an automobile,

Figure 2, a detail elevation showing certain parts in a different position, I

Figure 3, a plan of parts shown in Figure Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lamp casing, and

Figure 5, a wiring diagram.

In the'drawings reference character '10 indicates a casing for attachment to the in strument board of an automobile, this casing being connected to the board as by screws 11 and 12. A lever 13 is pivoted at the right-hand side of the casing, said lever having pivotal connection with a wire 14 extending through a tubular portion 15 of the casing extending through a side of the vehicle body. The wire 14 is pivotally connected at its outer end to a finger on a swinging arm 16. The arm 16 is hollow to receive a conductor 17 leading to a lamp 18 at the outer end of the arm which lamp ismounted on the arm in any convenient manner and is protected by a casing 19 open at front and back and at its outer end. The lamp 18 is grounded at 20 on the frame of the machine. An arrow head 21 is pivotally mounted on the arm 16 for rotation about the armas an axis.

The conductor 17 is secured by a screw 22 to the casing 10, said screw alsoserving as one means for holding a block of insulation 23 in place on the casing. Another wire 24 leading to a battery 24 grounded on the machine frame at 25 is secured by screw 25 to a strip or tongue of metal 26 which strip is also secured to the insulating block by the screw 25 or any other convenient means. The strip of metal 26 is resilient and is in opposed relation to a resilient tongue 27 on the casing.

The lever 13 is made of insulating material and is provided at 28 with a rivet or the like of conducting material extending through the lever and positioned to contact with the tongues 26 and 27 in certain positions of the lever. V I

The tongues or clips 26 and 27 engage the signal arm and hold the same in a definite position when it is slightly extended to such a position that the light will illuminate the running board. As one means for supporting the exterior signaling means have provided a bracket 29 adapted to be mounted on the body of the machine said bracket having at its outer end two forks between which the arm 16 is mounted on a ivot 30. The bracket is provided with a OWHWard projection 31 bifurcated at its extremity to em brace the arm 16 and support it to some extent against shaking motion caused by the movement of the vehicle which motion might loosen the pivot 30 and other parts. The arm 31 is perforated for passage of the conductor 17 which is thus guided in the arm and in a hole in the body of the vehicle.

In the operation of my device the parts move from the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 to that indicated in solid lines and back, being manually actuated by movement of the lever 13. As soon as this lever is moved to a slight extent from the dotted line position of Fig. 1 the circuit of the lamp is closed by engagement of the contacts 26, 27, 28 as will be clear on consideration of Figure 1. At this time the arm 16 is moved to only a slight extent and in this position thedevice may be used as a parking light, the light shining out to front and rear.

' When the lever 13 is now moved further to swing the arm upward a stop signal may be given, for example with the arm twothirds of the way up. At this position the light from the lamp will fall on the running board which is a matter of decided convenience for persons entering the vehicle or alighting' from it. It will be understood that the lamp continues to be lighted as contacts 26, 27 and 28 r'emain in engagement. To give a turning signal the lever is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 whereby the other parts also assume the positions shown in full lines. The efiect is incre-ased due to the fact that the end of the casing 19 is perforated so that the light may shine out on the end of the arrow head so as to give a more striking indication of the intention of the driver.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in my device without-departing from: the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specificationv but only as in dicated in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1 An automobile signal comprising a support for attachment at the side of the vehicle on the exterior of the same, a signaling arm pivoted on said support, and normally having a substantially vertical non-signaling po sition, a lamp carried by said arm, aplever for operating the saidarm located within the vehicle, a connection bet-ween said arm and lever, a casing carried by the arm and enclosing the lamp said casing being provided with an opening for the emission of light, an arrow headflin' aligned relation with the arm said arm being swing-able from a' nonsignaling to a signaling position said casing' being rotatable for displayinglight in different directions, and means associated with said operating means forcompleting a circuit through the lamp upon a slight movement of the signaling arm from normal and holding said arm in such position per mitting thedevic e to'be used as a light or tobe moved further for signaling thefintentionsot the driver, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination'in an automobile signaling device of a support for attachment on the exterior of the vehicle'at the side'of the same, a signaling arm pivoted on'said support in a manner to swing outwardly at right angles to the longitudinal'axis ofthe vehide and normally having a'subst'antially vertical non-signaling position, operating means for said signaling arm,'signaling 'de} vices on said signaling ar'mcomprisinga direction indicating body, aglan pca-i'ried by said direction indicatingbod'y, a casing for said lamp provided with an opening'for the emissionof'light, said casing being rotatable relative to the signaling arm for varyingthedirection of the-light displayed, and means associated with said operating means for completing the circuit through the lamp upon a slight movement of the signaling arm "from normal and holding said arm such position permitting the device'to beused as alight or to be moved further for signaling the intentionsof the'driver, substantially as set forth; r

" 3. The combination inan automobile signaling device of a support-for attachment on the exterior of the vehicle at the side of the same, a signaling arm pivoted on said support in a manner to swing outwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and normally having a substantially vertical nonsignaling position, operating means for said signaling arm, signaling degvices on said signaling arm comprisinga direction indicating body, a lamp carried by said direction indicating body, a casing for said lamp provided with openings in its front, rear and outerportions permitting the arm from normal and maintaining said arm in such definite position permitting the device to be used merely as a light or permitting it to be moved further for use as a signal "for indicating the intentions of the operator, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a signaling arm adapted to be pivotally supported'on the exterior at the side of a vehicle, signaling means on said arm including a lamp, operating means extending to' within the vehicle for moving the signaling arm from a depending non-signaling to an elevated sig naling position, and means associated with said operating means for completing the circuit through the lamp upon a slight movement of the signaling arm from normal'an'd holding said arm in such position and permitting the device to be used as a light or to be moved further for signaling the intentions of the driver, substantially as set forth. '5. The combination of a support adapted to be mounted on the side of a vehicle ex t'eriorly of the same, a signaling arm pivoted on said support and swingable from a depending inoperative position outwardly to operative position signaling means on said arm i'ncluding'a' lamp said signaling-arm when inpositionslightly removed from the inoperative being useful as :a light, and

means associated with said operating means for completing the circuit/through the lamp upon a slight movement of the signaling arm from normaland holding said arm in such position and permitting the device to be used as a light orto be' moved further for signaling the intentions of the driver, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a bracket adapted to be mounted exteriorly on the side of a vehicle, a signaling arm supportedby said bracket, signaling. means carried bysaid arm including a lamp, a fixedtube adjacent said bracket, a flexible member connected to the signaling arm and extending through said tube, a casing mountedat the end of the tube remote from the signaling arm, a lever of insulating material mountedin said casing-and connected to said flexible element whereby its movement will operate the signaling arm, a pair of spaced contact plates carried by the casing, and a bridge member carried by said lever arranged to engage the contacts and bridge upon a slight movement of the lever for completing the circuit through the lamp on the signaling arm, substantially as set forth.

7. A casing adapted to be mounted on the interior of an automobile, an operating lever carried by said casing, an insulating block secured in the casing, a plate fastened on each side of the insulating block in opposed relation for receiving the lever when it is moved from one extreme position, said plates overlapping each other lengthwise, and being separated by said insulating block, a binding screw connected to one of said overlapping plates and extending through said block, a second binding screw connected to the other of the overlapping plates and disposed in longitudinal spaced relation relative to the first mentioned binding screw, nuts on said binding screws disposed on the same side of the insulating block, and a contact bridging element carried by the lever in a position to engage the spaced contact plates upon the initial movement of the lever from its extreme position, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Tacoma, Washington this 22d day of December, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-five.

FRANK L. BAKER. 

